Kao Dao Ji stared at an small group of Gu Masters.
Those who were bowing before him all belonged to either Rank 4 or 5.
He stood there with his arms crossed.
Observing keenly at their every reaction.
"How has your progress been as of late?" He tilted his head as he said those words.
The first to answer was Kao Qian Hangse, who lifted his head and replied.
"Sire! We have produced two more Rank 5 Gu Masters across our Ranks, whereas I advanced to the middle stage a few days ago."
Kao Dao Ji raised his palm in denial as he said.
"That is not what I asked for."
He closed his eyes.
"Let me rephrase this: What do you know? About Cultivation, about Gu usage? What is your attainment? Your skills? I am also curious regarding the development of Gun Gu in my absence.
Your Cultivation Realm matters very little to me at the moment."
Kao Qian Hangse frowned.
"I…I am a Quasi-Master in Cloud Path and also have made some strides regarding Gun usage. I have found it to be rather suitable for me; it covers the weaknesses in offense regarding Cloud Path easily."
Kao Yi Shu, the Featherman who had once defied Kao Dao Ji regarding his decisions, also stared at him.
Her appearance, despite the circumstances, did not look servile; on the contrary, there was a deep flame and ambition in her eyes.
Her hair was blond, and she had an undercut hairstyle.
Her wings were similarly of the same pretty golden color, a product of using Gu to modify her body.
Whereas her eyebrows were rather long and thick.
Whilst she was pretty, it was only comparatively to the average; her appearance was further weakened by the greyish tone in her cheeks that looked like dirt.
And the smell of gunpowder.
Kao Dao Ji's eyelids trembled.
"Even now, whilst staring at me. She keeps that thing, which looks like a machine gun, right in her tiny hands."
He sighed.
"Ugh…This brings me back to some unpleasant memories." He touched his forehead; the memories of several of his family members carrying those guns carelessly echoed in his mind before he shot them down.
"Oh well, unlike them, even if she misfires is not as if she could actually kill me." That reassured him slightly.
Even more so as he stared appreciatively at her, he smirked.
"Still. Considering how modern that gun looks like my refinement experts have not been wasting their time."
In the time he analyzed, Kao Yi Shu finally began to speak.
"I…While I have not yet advanced to Rank 5, I have made some strides. Whilst I used to specialize in Wind Path, I have found using Gu's far more to my liking. As of now, I have created 13 Gun recipes, as well as 7 gunpowder compounds, not to mention I have found 31 suitable support Gu's.
Some of those support Gu are not new but rather are reutilization of already existing Gu Worms like 'Projectile Redirection Gu', or 'Explosive Speed Gu', 'Penetrative Arrow Gu'; however, I have found other usages for already existing Gu, or have produced derivative Gu based on their concepts with the aid of refinement experts.
Using those gains, we have already created a somewhat stable foundation for attacking, mobility, and even support.
But other areas like healing and defense have eluded us thus far.
In my case, I merely employ Wind Path when I am unable to find the solutions within my gun."
Kao Dao Ji's pupils trembled as he heard the unbelievable gains.
For a moment, he even froze in the spot.
"How? How did she accomplish something like that so…Easily? And why was I not informed?" He turned his gaze towards Kao Qian Hangse, who merely smiled helplessly.
The rivalry between the two Gu Masters was already known by most of the people within the aperture.
It was not unusual that he was trying to suppress her growth.
Kao Dao Ji stared at Kao Qian Hangse like a father who was in a public setting, and would not like to make a scene but was ready to give a beating to his son when he went back home.
Whereas Kao Yi Shu merely raised her tongue whilst staring at him mockingly.
Kao Dao Ji paused.
As he took a deep breath.
"That is not what I came here for, but…Those are unexpectedly good news."
He turned his gaze towards Kao Yi Shu, who had already recomposed her expression.
"You can meet me in three days. I will arrange your breakthrough to Rank 5. And also.
You can ask me for any request you'd like. Within limits, of course."
He then closed his eyes.
And added.
"With that settled. You may be wondering why I decided to call you here."
Many Featherman stared at him hungrily; by this point, it was already common sense how generous and uniquely talented this 'Land Spirit' was.
He was so surprisingly cunning, and his lessons were so deep and interesting, more than anything, even if he could not answer a question in a previous Heaven and Earth Ceremony by the next one, he would already have learnt the answers.
Such a hardworking elder inspired and stirred the hearts of several Feathermen.
But not a single one of them would have expected his following words.
"Well…I'd like to hear your opinions. How would you feel about siring an heir?"
"What?" Many Variant Humans stopped in their tracks.
Their gazes were utterly confused.
What kind of nonsensical question was that?
Was he trying to pick a mate, whilst using such a formal tone and with such a serious face?
Whilst several women and even men giggled whilst staring hungrily at his body, as if answering their questions, Kao Dao Ji coughed several times.
"I am not talking about myself, of course."
"Right, as if we'd believe you…" A Featherman thought.
"Aww…I didn't know he could be so shy, even though he's an immortal, he's such a cutie!" Despite their thoughts, they all nodded solemnly.
The atmosphere was rather peculiar.
Kao Dao Ji coughed several times.
"You are misunderstanding me. What I meant to say is…"
"Would you be willing to become the father or mother of a half-breed with a human?"
The expression of almost all the Featherman suddenly changed upon hearing those words, whilst the previous words could be said to be merely shy, those were outrageous.
"What? With those filthy humans. No way!"
"Does the Supreme Leader have some weird tas-" That Featherman was shut down by Kao Dao Ji's icy glare.
"I know how it sounds. Humans are our enemy. I know that you all have been taught this, and it's not just 'us', they themselves have taught us that they are not to be trusted.
They are treacherous, savage, cruel even with one another.
Yet.
They all seem to have a strange desire and kinship with their own blood.
Whilst this is not generally that easy to exploit, there came an opportunity some time ago.
Whilst I do not think most of you are aware of it, there was a huge crisis.
The Uru Clan organized an event, but in the end, they were attacked by demonic Immortals.
Whilst most clansmen survived, they were forced to take refuge and join the Central Continent.
Yet not all among them did, not only that, but they also brought thousands of guests.
Many of them died, but several more of them were captured at some point.
Later on, those demonic Immortals sold them into Treasure Yellow Heaven, and therein came this opportunity."
Kao Dao Ji grinned in an strange way.
"Amongst them, there are illegitimate and legitimate people who possess the bloodline of several Clans, and among such forces, whilst they pretend to be against blood path on the surface, have already uncovered some of its tricks.
Among these, there is one to detect blood kinship.
My plan is simple.
To those who are willing to agree, you will be able to nurture a new generation of half-breeds between you and those humans.
Those children once born will have their wings cut, and they will become virtually indistinguishable from common humans.
Of course, at a deeper level, their biology will still be different, especially their skeletal structure.
However, as long as others do not take a look at their corpse, or unless Immortals stare at them directly, such aspects will be very hard to perceive.
They will be able to infiltrate among the human files rather easily, and will serve purposes for our kind later.
Now…Do you understand what I am asking of you?" He stared solemnly at the group of Featherman.
Whose expressions looked utterly different from before.
Noticing that they were finally taking him seriously, Kao Dao Ji added.
"Of course, do not think you will simply screw off once, and leave.
If you join in, you will have to nurture the children. Teach them the ways of Cultivation, teach them how to fight, how to learn, how to blend in.
And also, you will have to be a parent, and in part, instill in him the values we do follow.
In return. I will grant you great payments to you and your descendants, and once they come of age.
I will allow them to join me in one of my expeditions and infiltration efforts.
Of course. I am not a monster. If they do not wish to partake in such things, I will accept it.
But their benefits will be cut down entirely." Of course, there was another layer, which was that even if those descendants did not agree to.
Sooner or later, the descendants of their descendants, descendants, would.
After all, time was a thing he had an almost unlimited supply of.
He could afford to wait 2 or 3 generations for his efforts to bear fruit.
"Of course, due to their peculiar nature. Those descendants will not be allowed to join into the main aperture of the Clan but will remain within my thrall for a long time.
Once the operations have already been uncovered, there is little point in trying to contain the secret any further. And I will allow them to do as they please, but unless they achieve great merits, they won't be able to go in and out freely." Kao Dao Ji explained calmly, but inwardly, his heart was burning.
"Ugh…I have been for so little time, and yet I have already become so detached." He sighed inwardly.
"Oh well…At least I am not Giant Sun just yet." He thought.
Whilst he saw no need to mention, those 'slaves' had not been forced to partake in those efforts.
Similarly, to the Featherman, he gave an offer to those slaves he bought; on one hand, they could accept his terms, and be greatly rewarded, and would gain citizenship within the Kao Clan.
However, if they were unwilling to agree, it was acceptable too.
At the moment, they would act as temporary workers; they would be paid almost as well as those Featherman, but would remain apart from them for secrecy.
However.
Once Shung Mia Yin completed the steps, they could be brought alongside Le Tu, where they would be free to go back into civilization and would be given a modest sum of resources before being set free.
Or if so, they wished they could keep working for Le Tu
(Of course, before doing so, Kao Dao Ji would wipe out their memories regarding his offer. To prevent the information from leaking just yet.)
Still. Whilst he was not forcing either of those two parts, it still felt disgusting to him.
Especially regarding the newborns.
And how their very childhoods would be shaped into becoming soldiers, yet, in spite of all, he comforted himself.
"They will do very well…If given the opportunity, I can easily nurture them to Rank 5. By then, whether they want to ascend to Immortality, or simply enjoy a life full of luxury, it will be theirs to enjoy."
As for those who died during those missions, well…
He could only blame their bad luck.
Whilst there was nothing urgent happening right now, he had a bad omen.
That Rank 9 Spring Autumn Cicada could not be good news, and he was almost certain that his own reincarnation into this world was somehow related to it.
Whether he had been chosen or not by Heaven's Will or a Venerable to deal with a Demon Venerable like Fang Yuan had, he did not know, but he was certain that there was something amiss.
Under such circumstances, how could he afford mercy?
Still another thing he felt regretful of was.
"What a shame that I could not find a single slave who had Giant Sun's bloodline..."